Well, the year 2000 could have happened like that. That was my reaction watching Death Race 2000, the Paul Bartel-directed 1975 cult classic that posited a year 2000 where the citizens of a fascist America are kept entertained and pacified by the Death Race, a cross-country dash from New York to New Los Angeles where drivers get points not only for who gets there first but how many pedestrians they kill along the way.